Narooma's Kirk Ryder says it's the fastest growing sport in the world. And it seems Eurobodallans agree, with keen enthusiasts across the shire picking up pickleball paddles.
Imagine crossing tennis, badminton and ping-pong. The whiffle is a softball-sized ball yet lighter than a tennis ball. The court of play is one-half the space used in tennis. So there's less running and hard hitting and, Kirk will tell you, there's more fun.
"The rules make for short games, with a lot of back and forth and quick turn around. You can learn the skills quickly but there's a lot of nuance as you progress," he says.
Indeed, it has all the ingredients for good social sport. A part-time Narooma resident, Kirk also spends some of the year in the US, where pickleball players number an estimated 36+ million. And still growing.
"You can go to the courts any morning and there will be a couple of dozen people to play with. Then, of course, you go out for coffee after," says Kirk.
Following the adage 'build it and they will come', Council is doing its bit to grow this accessible and social sport – currently estimated at 16,000 players nationally – here in Eurobodalla. There are marked indoor courts at the Hanging Rock basketball stadium and the Narooma Leisure Centre, and outdoors at Narooma's Bill Smyth Oval – individuals, clubs and community groups bringing along their own paddles, balls and nets for play.
In Moruya, Next Generation Tennis also run pickleball on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings at the Shore Street tennis courts.
- This story was first published in Council's quarterly newsletter for residents, Living in Eurobodalla. A printed edition is delivered to Eurobodalla's 26,000 households.
